Nathan Cleary remains the favourite for the Dally M player award, despite being unable to attend Wednesday's gala because of a serious ankle injury.
Voting closed after round 12, leaving Panthers teammate Dylan Edwards, Scott Drinkwater of North Queensland and James Tedesco of the Roosters among the other contenders.
Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook's chance of winning coach of the year will be judged on the regular season, not the Knights' run to the grand final.
He took over a team that finished last in 2025 and guided them to seventh, before Newcastle moved within 80 minutes of a premiership and its first grand final in 25 years.
Ivan Cleary, Kristian Woolf and Andrew Webster are also in contention after the Panthers' minor premiership, the Dolphins' first finals appearance and the Warriors' campaign.
Knights captain Kalyn Ponga backed Holbrook, saying, "I'm pretty biased but you look at all the coaches that are up for that award and they all have a fair reason to win it."
"The culture he's created here, the environment that we get to come to work every day to is because of him. That's the reason why we're in this grand final."
"He's getting so much out of everyone, young, old and he's created an environment where we know what it means for this town so he deserves it."
Injured halfback Dylan Brown credited Holbrook's calm approach and the happy atmosphere, saying, "Energy is contagious and Justin has great energy. So do a lot of the boys who have been stepping up through the year."
The coach and rookie awards are decided after the regular season, so Newcastle's finals surge also came too late for rookie Francis Manuleleua. Canberra halfback Ethan Sanders and Melbourne forward Cooper Clarke lead that race.
The NRLW award contenders include Teagan Levi, Sheridan Gallagher, Tarryn Aiken and Tamika Upton. Levi moved from rugby sevens and impressed in her first NRLW season.
Ponga's case for captain of the year also cannot draw on Newcastle's finals performances.